Next Scranton Chief May Find Lower Salary

Nov. 23--If Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty's proposed budget for 2014 passes as is, the salary of the fire chief would plunge 26 percent.

The $130.2 million budget proposal contains a salary reduction -- a $17,228 decrease in pay -- for the next fire chief, from the current annual salary of $67,228 to $50,000 next year.

Mr. Doherty said he has proposed dropping the salary of the next fire chief to bring it in line with salaries of other department heads who had their pay slashed a few years ago by city council.

A new mayor typically selects his own Cabinet and does not retain the former mayor's department heads. Mayor-elect Bill Courtright said he has not made any decisions yet on naming his department heads. He was "very surprised" that Mr. Doherty proposed slashing the pay of the next fire chief because last year Mr. Doherty proposed a 24 percent pay hike of $16,258 for current Fire Chief Tom Davis for this year.

That was among six hefty raises proposed for certain employees that council did not pass last year for the 2013 budget. Those scuttled raises included bumps for Mr. Davis and three business administration employees, and were intended to have their pay partly restored to their former levels before their salaries were cut in 2011 and 2012 by the council, the mayor had said.

Mr. Courtright said the fire chief's salary should remain at its current level.

"That's a huge cut," Mr. Courtright said. "We're going to try and restore it. Maybe council will consider it."

Council on Thursday introduced an ordinance to appropriate funding for the budget. Council members expressed concern about the budget's 56.7 percent real estate tax hike and 68.5 percent trash collection fee increase and hoped to lessen those impacts. There was no discussion of the fire chief's salary. Council will hold a public hearing on the budget on Dec. 5.

Firefighter union President John Judge views the mayor's cutting of the next fire chief's pay as the mayor's final salvo against the union in their contentious relationship, particularly because the mayor last year wanted to hike the chief's salary.

"This is absolutely a parting shot," Mr. Judge said. "It's the only salary of an administrative cabinet position that's decreased. It's ridiculous."

Mr. Doherty countered, "It's not that at all, because all the other department heads are in that level and the fire chief will still make more than DPW (Department of Public Works) and LIPS (Licensing, Inspections & Permits)" directors, who earn $43,875 and $41,760, respectively.

Mr. Judge said the mayor's 2014 budget is his most realistic budget in 12 years. However, having a fire chief earn an annual salary of $50,000, which would be less than a first-year firefighter earns, would deter highly-qualified candidates.

"What type of person is going to be attracted to $50,000, caliber-wise, when every member of the department makes more than he does -- substantially more?" Mr. Judge asked. "My fear is if council doesn't restore it, what type of person will lead this department?"

Mr. Judge said the fire chief's salary should at least remain the same as now, or preferably be more on par with the police chief's pay.

The budget calls for a 4 percent raise of $3,875 for the police chief, from $87,119 this year to $90,994 next year. That's because the police chief's salary is pegged by state law to be at least as much as the second-in-command, and the police contract calls for a rank differential of 4 percent.

Salaries of the other department heads would remain the same. Mr. Doherty also noted that as mayor he has earned $50,000 a year and never took a raise. He and council previously agreed to raise the next mayor's salary to $60,000 next year. Mr. Judge agreed the mayor's salary has been too low and should have been higher.

The budget contains various contractual raises for unionized employees, while salaries of nonunion employees would stay the same. The budget also does not maintain a position of first assistant solicitor in the Law Department, and a chief clerk and solicitor in the Single Tax Office. The jobs of a few employees who are leaving also would not be filled.

"I've got to make this budget work," Mr. Doherty said. "Besides raising taxes, people want to know, did you cut everywhere you could?"

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